Lionel Messi Matches Thierry Henry’s Milestone, Rewriting MLS History With Another Record

Pardon us, but we are still searching for a word to describe Lionel Messi. The Argentinian superstar is leaving no territory uncharted in the MLS, breaking records every matchday. Yet again, the spotlight shines bright on the Inter Miami star as he emulated a record previously held by none other than MLS icon Thierry Henry. 

With his extraordinary performance on Saturday night against the New York Red Bulls, La Pulga was awarded the MLS Player of the Week. Securing yet another individual accolade, Messi has now won three out of the last four MLS Player of the Week awards. This achievement places him in elite company alongside former New York Red Bulls forward Thierry Henry, who accomplished the same feat in 2012, as the only two players in Major League Soccer history to do so.

It was one achievement Messi broke while helping his side clinch a 6-2 win against Henry’s former side. Even though he netted just once, Messi delivered a remarkable five assists to help Luis Suarez get a hat trick and Matias Rojas bag a brace. He became the first player in the history of soccer to get five goals and five assists in a single match while also being the first MLS player ever to have five assists. Wait, there’s more!

Additionally, Messi has surpassed Robert Taylor’s previous record of 15 assists in 87 games to become Miami’s all-time leading assist provider with 16 assists in 25 games. Beyond his record-breaking six-goal contributions in a single match, the captain has also become the first player in history to surpass 1200 goal contributions. 

Such numbers are enough to suggest his importance for Inter Miami in their quest to lift the title. Yet, surprisingly, isn’t the crucial puzzle piece in the Herons’ potential title success!

Lionel Messi isn’t the man Inter Miami needs to win titles!

Former Inter Miami player Kieran Gibbs, who was part of the team from 2021 to 2023, believes that the club’s hopes for a title rest on the shoulders of Leonardo Campana. In an interview, the ex-England international emphasized the significance of the young player in the squad, praising his strong character, professionalism, and ability to maintain composure. “He’s going to be important for Miami going for the title,“ said Gibbs.

The former Arsenal left-back also highlighted Campana’s patience during challenging times. Having scored 9 and 11 goals in the previous two seasons, Campana was previously the main striker for the Herons. However, the dynamics changed with the arrival of Messi’s close friend, Luis Suarez. It remains to see if Campana can make significant contributions to the team, following in the footsteps of his record-breaking captain, Lionel Messi.